Curtain-stretcher.



O. K. HICKS. CURTAIN STBETUHER. APPLIOATION rinnn 001'. ad, 1909.

Patented Oct. 18,1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES G. K. HICKS.

QUBTAI'N STRETGHER. APPLICATION nun 00130, 1909.

Patented Oct. 18, 1910;

- 2 BHEETHHBET 2.

fizy- 1 BY v 1N VENTOR-.

CLARA K. HICKS, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

To all whom it may concern."

Be it known that I, CLARA K. ,HIoKs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Louisville, in the county of Jefferson and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Curtain-Stretchers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to stretchers for holding lace curtains during the process of drying, and the object-s of my improvement are, adjustability in every direction, provision for adjustment of the hooks upon which the several scallops of the curtain are secured, so that the scallops dry evenly spaced and in proper shape, provision for accurate spacing, ease of mounting curtains upon the stretcher, facility of stretching the curtain operated upon evenly and thoroughly without tearing the edges or any part thereof, compactness when stored and not in use, rigidity, firmness, ease of operation, ease of manufacture, and cheapness of manufacture. These objects I attain by means of the structure illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Y Figure 1 is a plan view, having a part of each longer pole broken out; Fig. 2, a detail view of one end portion of one of the shorter poles; Fig. 3, a detail view of a middle solid section of one of the shorter poles showing the graduations; Fig. 4, a detail view of a solid end section of one of the longer poles, showing graduations; Fig. 5, a detail view illustrating the telescoping joint between the sections of the several poles and the fastening means; and, Fig. 6 is a detail view of a ring and hook showing curtains mounted upon the hook.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

The frame, 1, of the stretcher is of the usual rectangular form and is made up preferably of round poles, 2, 3, 4, and 5, substantially like the ordinary curtain poles upon which lace curtains are mounted in use. These poles are composite, being preferably made, as shown in the drawings, of solid wood sections, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11, telescoped into metal tubes, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17. By mounting the solid wood poles in the metal tubes, the poles are adapted for longitudinal adjustment.

The side poles 2 and 3 are made up of solid sections 7 and 8 inserted in one end of tubes 12 and 13 and fastened by nails or Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 30, 1909.

CURTAIN-STRETCHER.

Patented Oct. 18, 1910.

Serial No. 525,422.

screws, 18, and solid poles 6 and 9 slidably mounted in the opposite end of the tubes 12 and 13, in order that they may be adjusted therein. At the adjusting end, the tube is provided with a swinging latch, 19, pivoted near the end of the tube in embossed hingelugs, 20. Poles 6 and 9 are provided with suitably spaced holes, 21, adapted to receive latch 20 and hold them in position when properly adjusted. Latch 19 is prevented from working out of holes 21 by a ring, 22, which is mounted upon poles 6 and 9 or tubes 12 and 13 and adapted to he slipped over latch 19 when placed in one of the holes 21. The pole 6 is provided with graduationmarks, 23, at the holes 21, as well as beyond the scope of these holes. By means of the graduation-marks 23 the poles on each side of the frame may be adjusted to the same length without measuring with a rule or other extraneous appliance.

The end poles 4 and 5 are preferably made of the solid middle sections, 10, 11, and tubular end sections 14, 15, 16 and 17. The solid sections 4 and 5 are provided with holes 21 similar to those in poles 2 and 3 and also with latches 20 and rings 22, so that these end poles may be similarly adjusted, to widen or contract the frame. The poles 4 and 5 are also provided with graduation-marks 23 preferably at the latch holes, by means of which the two ends of the stretcher may readily be adjusted to be of equal. width. The latches 19 and rings 22 are made to hug the poles as closely as practicable and are made as fiat as is consistent with required strength and wit-h feathered edges, in order that rings, 24, provided with hooks, 25, may be mounted upon the poles and be enabled to slide freely over these parts. At each end of poles 4 and 5 is provided a hinged clip, 26, adapted to surround the ends of the side poles 2 and 3 and clamp them firmly. These clips have one member, 27, rigidly attached to the end of the pole and the opposite member, 28, hinged, at 29. And there may be a bolt, 30, provided with a thumb-nut, passed through the outer ends of members 27 and 28 and serve to clamp them about the pole.

It will be understood that the clamps 26 may be slipped along the poles when loosened and thus provide adjustment for end poles 4 and 5 along poles 2 and 3.

A number of rings 24 are provided which are adapted to fit loosely upon the poles of the stretcher and to slip easily along them. These rings are provided with hooks 25 which are sharp-pointed and adapted to receive the curtains, 31. In Fig. 6, it will be seen that several curtains may be mounted upon hooks 2:") simultaneously, or if desired these hooks are also adapted to receive and stretch a counterpane or similar article. I have provided additional poles 4 and 5 of extra length, for wide articles such as counterpanes, which may be easily substituted for the shorter poles in the tubular parts lat, l5, l6, and 17.

The curtain stretcher may be easily knocked down and the several poles packed together side by side so as to take up very little room in storing. This may be done by simply loosening the bolts 80, thereby loosening the clamps 26 and slipping the end poles d and 5 off the poles 2 and 3. The rings 2& may be strung and tied together and tied to the poles.

The operation of my curtain stretcher may now be readily understood.

Poles 2, 3, 4 and 5 may be assembled as shown in Fig. 1. If a lace curtain is to be stretched and dried, the scallops are counted and a ring 24 strung on the frame for each scallop. The curtain may first be mounted upon hooks at one end of the frame and then gradually from that end along both sides and finally along the opposite end. To mount the curtain upon the hooks, the several poles may be shortened by releasing latches 19 and allowing the parts of the poles to telescope together. After the curtain has been mounted all around, the side poles may be drawn apart and secured in parallel relation by placing the latches 19 X in corresponding latch holes 21 a3 g by the graduation-marks OflQ 0t end poles may then be gr; d andga le its clamp screws 30 are stil loose, draw along the side poles until the curtain 1S. sutliciently stretched. Parallelism of the end poles may be determined by graduation marks provided on the sections 6 and 9 or 7 and 8. rings 2% will slide readily along the poles and distribute themselves so that the scallops are drawn perpendicularly toward the poles. If any should be found pulling diagonally or sidewise, they may be shifted and straightened with a mere touch of the fingers.

As previously stated the stretcher may also be used for drying counterpanes, and it is also found useful asa quilting frame for quilting.

Having thus described my invention so that any one skilled in the art pertaining thereto, may understand its construction and use, I claim In a curtain stretcher, a rectangular frame comprising a pair of side poles and a pair of end poles each end pole being made up of a solid round middle section and tubular end sections, said solid round section sliding into said tubular sections and being adjustable therein, and each tubular section being provided with a hinged clip whereby said end poles are slidably and adjustably mountedon said side poles in such a manner that all said poles lie in the same plane.

CLARA K. HICKS. lVitnesses \VM. J. SAUER, ABRAHAM KNoBEL.

As the curtain is stretched, the 

